Power Tools Reviews

My Porter Cable 7335 finally gave out. I've been a serious wood working hobbist for many years and this was one of the first tools I ever purchased. As I was taking this sander in for repair, I couldn't help but think just how hard this tool has worked for me over the last 16 years. I've probably used this tool more than any other tool in my shop over those years. It's been a real work horse! It's always been there to do the job, whether it be fast stock removal or fine finishing, without leaving unsightly swirl marks. Hurray for good old American quality built tools!

I am a professional cabinet maker, we have had a two of these sanders in use in my shop for several years now. Always reliable, with the exception of brushes wearing out about once a year or so. Fast stock removal, with a good overall finish quality. We use the Stickit style self-adhesive sanding discs, after a few thousand discs, the extra cost of hook/loop discs adds up. Stay with the hook/loop for small jobs though, once you take a self-stick paper off, it won't really stick right again. Highly recommended.

this sander may not be for everyone as you can take alot of material of very quickly...but thats why i love it. it dosnt leave you with a bunch of scratches either... turn down the speed and you can do some finish sanding as well. enjoy

As most US Craftsmen have noticed, nearly all woodworking manufactureres are off-shoring the manufacture of their machines. Powermatic (JET) is no exception; their PM 66 series tablesaw, their shapers, and a couple drill presses are all that remain of American made machinery. I picked up the 5HP saw with the Router Lift table and am very pleased with it. It won't be long before all of Powermatic will be made in Taiwan, so if you want an American made saw, you better act now. Your next best choice is General (not General International), which is made in Canada. General carries two lines one made in Canada and their General International which is the same Taiwan crap you find at Jet. Happy shopping. John - Knoxville, TN

The saw is great. Just do not buy this from AMAZON!!!! I have waited for over six weeks for my saw and finally gave up(I was told in the sixth week of waiting that it wasw being shipped to AMAZON from the manufacture in 3-5 weeks and AMAZON was going to take another 3-5 weeks on top of that to get me my saw for a grand total of 5 moths!) So, I went to southern tools and they shipped the saw that day. I had my saw within three days (not weeks or months like AMAZON!!!)
I received the saw in seven boxes but it was very easy to set up! The boxes they used for the saw was reinforced with 2x4's. They even test the saw before it leaves the factory (give you a readout of the test results, which is great to use as a reference.) I got the mobile base and set up the saw in the base. The table saw was square right out of the box. Just follow the directions and you will have a great saw that will last for years!
Thank You Southern Tool for my table saw!

dont order this product from amazon been waiting for three going on four weeks amazon says it will be two to three more weeks if they dont change it again ......can they really get this saw?????? steve

I do painting & remodeling for myself & family and saw this fan advertised with a great price on sale & bought one to try out. I've really been impressed with the size and more importantly the performance of it. It's small & easy to carry around on jobs. The main thing is it's so quiet at the low setting that you hardly hear it and you won't hear if if there's some other sound in the room. It's puts out a lot of breeze at all 3 speeds. The dual outlets on board are very handy to plug in a light or some other tool without having to plug into another wall outlet and the breaker button reset on the fan is a nice feature though I haven't tripped it yet. The cord on it is massive and a bit stiff but still flexible enough to wrap up at the end of the day to carry with the nice handle to hold on to. It's so versatle to aim it up on the ceiling or down to the floor or wherever in between. Everyone that sees & feels it is impressed with it's strong airflow and since it's direction of air is fairly in a tight pattern out of it's rectangular grill it's great for putting the air on me when I'm painting if I need it and not on the wall drying the paint too quickly. So far I've been careful with it hoping I don't bang it or drop something on it being it's plastic but seemingly pretty thick. For a jobsite fan or needed to aim precisely to dry something out it's a Mighty Mite. This fan blows away those cheap 16 inch oscillating fans hands down.



Bill

This thing frick'en rocks! I'm using this blower as a regular room/office fan because its quiet and circulates tons of fresh air even when it's running on the low speed. As far as durability -it is to early to say but it appears to be pretty stout. I like it so much I'm probably going to get a second one so I don't have to bring one back and forth from work to home. (I got the free shipping and it still arrived in two days to Tennessee so that was a plus as well.)

This fan is small in size but moves tons of air. The one feature you don't see in the photos is that the fan pivots all the way around to turn into a floor dryer. The picture just shows half of its movement. Great little fan to have, you won't be disappointed.

THE GATEMOUTH JR. IS AN EXCELLENT BAG. I PUT MINE TO THE TEST IN A HARSH INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT AND IT SEEMS TO BE HOLDING UP PRETTY WELL SO FAR. I DID HOWEVER MANAGE TO GET A HOLE IN ONE OF THE FRONT POCKETS BY PUTTING A PAIR OF IDEAL CRIMPERS IN IT. I LIKE THE BAG VERY MUCH AND HAVE IT SO FULL OF STUFF, I AM THINKING ABOUT UPGRADING TO A PRO SUPER GATEMOUTH.

With loads of pockets and a large mouth opening this tool bag is outstnading in every way. I keep my cordless drill inside with an assortment of hand tools outside in the various sized pockets.

The sewing is strong and the handles are firmly attached and after three months of use there is little if any wear on the bag.

I'll definately buy others from this line.

I install LAN's for a living, carry all my needed tools in this compact bag. It is amazing how much you can fit in it. It is also one of the most durable things I have ever bought. This bag would still be a bargain at twice the price.

I am a professional carpenter and this finish nailer is the best i have worked with. Easy to load, easy to use, easy to fix jams. Great tool, but i got mine at lowes, they have a offer on where u will get a 18v rip saw, 2 batteries, charger and a good tough carry bag with the nailer, all for $400. Better deal if u ask me.

I have been a carpenter for years and have never liked the Dewalt products but I must say I think I am a changed man. I bought this nailer b/c I didn't want to have to deal with gas cartridges of paslode or PC. I have only used this nailer for about a month but so far it has been great to say good bye to dealing with hoses.

Each time I use this nailer I wish my crown stapler and framing nailer was cordless - I would be able to clear up about 2 feet in my truck by getting rid of the compressor.

It's an expensive tool but it's a good investment. It saves so much time and leave very mark on the wood. It's great for hang doors too. HD guys didn't know and tell me that the Porter Cable would be fine and jammed once a while. When I switched to the Paslode Nail, it hasn't jammed since then.

I bought the DW124 several years ago, when it was the only drill of it's kind. The other alternative at that time was mainly the stubby Milwaukee Hole Hawg, which was what I had used up until that point. Makita also made a Hole Hawg look-alike but wasn't readily available in my area back then.
The Hole Hawg was fast and had lots of torque but the short body length made it difficult to control. The bulky gear case behind the chuck and the extended motor housing made it too wide to get into really tight spots. It also required you to stay on top of it at all times or it had a nasty tendency to wrench your wrist and shoulder, smash your hand against a wall, bruise your kidneys or pound your upper thigh mercilessly all day long. In addition, when working from a ladder it could throw you off if the bit began to bind up and you didn't react quickly enough.

I now use the Dewalt drill on the job almost every day and even though it is well worn, it has never given me any trouble.

It is fast and has plenty of torque. The long body and handle gives the operator more leverage, making it much safer and easier to control, which is probably why both Milwaukee and Makita copied it and came out with their own similar models last year. I have tried both the new Makita RAD and Milwaukee super hawg and even though the DW124 has a lower 8-amp motor and slightly lower RPM's in both high and low speeds, I still prefer the DW124. Mainly because the Dewalt's chuck is further forward and the top leading edge of the gear case is beveled, so with the bail handle removed, as it always is on my drill, it will fit into even tighter spaces than the others will.
The DW124 is reversible and has two speed ranges. It utilizes a clutch when in low speed to prevent the torque of a jammed bit from snapping your wrist.
I use it with hole saws up to a 4-5/8" with either a 6", 12" or 18" extension. Dewalt says the maximum hole saw size is 6". It is also used with self-feed auger bits up to 4-5/8" and "nail eater" ship auger style bits up to 1-1/2 X 18".
The DW124 kit consists of a steel storage case, adjustable bail handle and a threaded side handle.
An important advantage that Dewalt has over other power tool manufacturers is easy access to repair parts and technical information. You can get parts and tech bulletins online, direct from Dewalt's Service Net. Parts are also available through Grainger Parts Operation. This can be a huge time and cost saving convenience for owners that repair their own tools, as I do.
A drill like the DW124 is a necessity for contractors working in the plumbing, electrical, HVAC and pipe fitting trades, because with the fast pace of construction and high cost of skilled labor these days, you really can't compete or work efficiently without having at least one on the job.
This is a very solid tool and I will definitely be buying another when the time comes. I would also have no problem recommending it to anyone who works in the trades and needs to drill many large holes quickly.

I use alot of tool and seem to like the Dewalt products the best as far as performance and wear and tear. If I have a choice between Dewalt and another product, my choice is always dewalt! Great quality product at an affordable price.

I bought this drill to use in my work. I works great. It has a good reputation in the trades too. I have spoken with plumbers who use it and they like it a lot. It is a USA made tool and is built to last. I wish all my tools were made this well. I got this drill at Tool-up with free shipping. They are in CT. It was 299 and I love it.

I purchased this drill because I wanted a powerful 1/2" drill. I like this drill because its rpm's match its purpose. I originally purchased the same drill with 2 speeds and the hammmerdrill function. I thought it was to big and really didn't like worrying about something else to break. The rpm range is ideal for heavy drilling. I received the drill, contractor bag and a set of spade bits for $99.00. I tried the drill out using a 1 inch spade bit through an 8 inch oak branch. It drilled straight through and never bogged down. I am glad I got the 7.8 amp drill versus the 6.7 amp drill. I really recommend this drill.

This is the toughest drill I have ever used that stands up to everyday use. Be careful to use the handle, that this drill comes with, otherwise the drill will easily overpower you!
Enjoy!

Upon initial examination, the Dewalt DW235G is a very well made 1/2" drill. I purchased it because I needed to drive bits (.75", .875", 1", 1.25" w/ 1/2" shank) that were large enough for toggle bolts fit through. It did what it is supposed to without a hitch. Since then, I have used it for a variety of household projects. I can recommend this drill to anyone who needs a 1/2" drill without reservation.

Received my Porter Cable FR350AR framing nailer today. I've been looking a while for a nailer, but didn't want to spend $400-$500. So I thought used would be OK for a tool that would be used for the now and then weekend project. I did the 2 day delivery and it was here at noon the 2nd day (pretty good). When I opened the box the nailer came in a new case which is very nice. What I didn't expect was to find a new nailer! If this nailer was used I couldn't find a scratch on it any wear. It did have a reconditioned label on it. So I kinda feel like I got the full meal deal-----$400 plus nailer for $159 plus some change for shipping. Thanks Amazon

Was a good deal and worked as good as new. Built a 8 x 12 shed from floor to roof and it worked great and saved hours and hours and hours of time. Not to mention several smashed fingers.And I didn't nail my self as my wife feared. I have used it several times sence I built the shed. I didn't realize all the uses for it.

Came with nice case

As advertised, works well. I like it. A great bargain.

The batteries for this thing are ~$85 each. When you consider that, and the fact that this is an awesome drill, it adds up to an excellent deal. It comes with a smart charger so you don't fry your batteries and the thing has power that goes on and on and on. I can't wait until they get more of these in because I'm getting another one.

I bought this drill for my husband and it is great. He has worn out every other drill that he has used such as snap on, 12v porter cable, and several other drills but this one stands up to the test. I am hoping this will be the last one i will ever buy and so far i have nothing but praise for it. The batteries last forever and its great that it comes with two so there is no waiting. This drill is also a great price. I shopped around and this is by far the best deal. I just cant say enough about this drill. I hope this was helpful in making your purchase.

I am a professional developer/renovator. Working in old houses often means tough studs and hardwood floors and timbers that need some agressive power and other battery powered drills i have used failed the test, and this one has the strength and stammina to mix thin set mortor for the ceramic tile jobs we often do. This will be my third purchase of the same drill. My plan is to include this item in every work truck's tool box. If you only have one power tool, this out preforms a skill saw in use and versitility.

The first nailer I recieved didn't work properly, the driver wouldn't retract. I followed the instructions for oil, and used the proper nails but no luck. Amazon's return policy worked flawlessly. They sent me a replacement via FedEx 2nd day and I received a perfectly working nailer that looks as if it has never been used. The price was excellent and I was able to build 85 feet of fencing without a single problem. I think, based on previous reviews that receiving a gun that didn't work was certainly an exception and Amazon did an awesome job of correcting it.

This reconditioned nailer like all my past reconditioned tools that I have brought (22 in all)is Brand New! not a mark on it!
It pays off big time too buy these tools, I shouldn't tell anyone this for fear these tools will sell out too quickly.

I recently purchased the FR350R framing nail gun from Porter-Cable and have found the gun to perform wonderfully. My only complaint was how the reconditioned nail gun arrived with major scratches and no labels. I know this product was reconditioned, but it looked like it was used on a job site for many years performing heavy labor. I would have preferred to spend the extra money to have bought the new tool. I also bought a reconditioned finishing nail gun from Porter-Cable that performed perfectly as well, only that the finishing nail gun appeared brand new upon arrival.